Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial–Temporal Evolution of Soil Erosion in a Typical Mountainous Karst Basin in SW China, Based on GIS and RUSLE

  • Research Article - Earth Sciences
  • Published:
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, we address the characteristics of the spatial and temporal evolution of soil erosion in karstic mountainous area of Houzhai River Basin of southwest China. The study uses GIS, erodibility test results, actual surveys of soil types, a revised universal soil loss equation for estimating soil erosion in 1973, 1990, 2002, and 2013, and an analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of the evolution law of soil erosion for almost 40 years. Results show the following: (1) The soil erosion modulus of the Houzhai River Basin exhibits a decrease from 222.72 t km−2 year−1 in 1973 to 103.82 t km−2 year−1 in 2013. (2) The intensity level of soil erosion changes across space. The most active area is mainly concentrated in the upstream peak cluster depression. Areas with a slope of 8°–25° account for 40.81 % of the total erosion contribution rate, indicating that these are the main areas where erosion occurs. (3) The global and universal classification standard of soil erosion shows that the Houzhai River Basin areas above 65 % do not undergo micro-erosion. The rocky desertification is a serious problem, which explains why grading standard soil erosion intensity is inapplicable to karst areas. (4) The average soil erosion modulus in the basin is generally low (i.e., below 1000 t km−2 year−1), which indicates strong karstification in the karst areas. This process can occur through subsurface pores, fissures, holes, and underground leakage phenomena, which underestimate the amount of soil erosion in the karst areas. A comprehensive analysis of a long time series reveals that soil erosion in the karst areas is a complex process which requires further detailed studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Angulo-Martinez A.P.: Barros measurement uncertainty in rainfall kinetic energy and intensity relationships for soil erosion studies: an evaluation using PARSIVEL disdrometers in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Geomorphology 228, 28–40 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ni J.: Carbon storage in Chinese terrestrial ecosystems: approaching a more accurate estimate. Clim. Change. 119, 905–917 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Chen H.S, Liu J.W, Wang K.L.: Spatial distribution of rock fragments on steep hillslopes in Karst region of northwest Guangxi, China. Catena. 84, 21–28 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Terranova O., Antronico L., Coscarelli R., Iaquinta P.: Soil erosion risk scenarios in the Mediterranean environment using RUSLE and GIS: an application model for Calabria (southern Italy). Geomorphology 112, 228–245 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bai Z.G., Wang G.J.: Study on watershed erosion rate and its environmental effects in Guizhou Karst region. J. Soil Water Conserv. 4, 1–7 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chen X.P: Research on characteristics of soil erosion in Karst Mountainous region environment. J. Soil Water Conserv. 3, 31–36 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Peng J., Yang M.D.: On the present soil erosion situation of Huajiang Karst Gorge in Guizhou Province. J. Mt. Sci-Engl. 19, 511–515 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mei Z.M., Wang D.N., Xiong K.N., Lan A.J., Chen Y.H., Sun J.C., Yu J.Y.: A preliminary study on the technology of vegetation restoration on the land of different rocky desertification degree: a case study of the Huajiang demonstration area Guizhou. Carsologuca. Sin. 23, 253–258 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Long, M.Z.: Water soil conservation effect and soil erosion models during the ecosystem rehabilitation of Karst valleys—taking Huajiang demonstration area as an example. Guizhou. Norm. Univ. 6, 17–22 (2006)

  10. Fu W.L., Zhang Z.W., Zhang H., Xia K.S., Xie D.T., Ni J.P.: Study on characteristics of soil erosion on Karst Hillslope. J. Soil Water Conserv. 21, 38–41 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wang H.Y., Hou Y.Y., Wu X.Q., Cai Y.L.: Mineral magnetic characteristics of sediments from Shibanqiao Reservoir, Guanling County, Guizhou Province and their implications on soil erosion. Geogr. Res. 25, 865–875 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wang, Y.: Simulation study on soil erosion in Karst area: a case study of Wujiang River Basin in Guizhou Province. Peking. Univ. 14, 1–6 (2011)

  13. Renard, K.G.; Foster, G.R.; Wessides,G.A.; et al.: Predicting Soil Erosion by Water: A Guide to Conservation Planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE)[S]// United States Department of Agriculture(USDA). Agricultural Handbook: No. 703. USDA, Washington (1997)

  14. Renard K.G., Freimund J.R.: Using monthly precipitation data to estimate the R-factor in the revised USLE. J. Hydrol. 157, 287–306 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Huang Y.H., Lu C.L., Zheng T.F., Fu Q., Xu J.J.: Study on Rainfall Erosivity Index in Southeastern Fujian. J. Soil Water Conserv. 6, 1–5 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Zhou F.J., Chen M.H., Liu F.X.: The rainfall erosivity index in Fujian Province. J. Soil Water Conserv. 9, 13–18 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wang W.Z., Jiao J.Y., Hao X.P., Zhang X.K., Lu X.Q., Chen F.Y., Wu X.: Study on rainfall erosivity in China. J. Soil Water Conserv. 9, 5–18 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Williams, J.R.; Sharply, A.N.: EPIC-erosion/productivity impact calculator. Model documentation, technical bulletin number 1768[M]. USDA-ARS, Washington 8–9 (1990)

  19. Liu, B.Y.; Nearing, M.A.; Risse, L.M.: Slope gradient effects on soil loss for steep slopes. Trans. ASABE 16, 1835–1840 (1994)

  20. Cai C.F., Ding S.W., Shi Z.H., Huang L., Zhang G.Y.: Study of applying USLE and geographical information system IDRISI to predict soil erosion in small watershed. J. Soil Water Conserv. 14, 19–24 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wang W.F: Investigation of land erosion model of Houzhaihe catchment in Puding, Guizhou and its application. Guizhou. Geol. 18, 99–106 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang X.B., Bai X.Y., Wen A.B.: A preliminary investigation of the potential for using the 137Cs technique to date sediment deposits in Karst depressions and to estimate rates of soil loss from karst catchments in Southwest China. Int. Assoc. Hydrol. Sci. (IAHS) 337, 149–156 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bai X.Y.: Assessment of sediment and erosion rates by using the caesium-137 technique in a Chinese polygonal karst depression. Environ. Earth Sci. 64, 2151–2158 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang S.J., Ji H.B., OuYang Z.Y., Zhou D.Q., Zhang L.P., Li T.Y.: A preliminary study on the effect of soil carbonate rock weathering. SCI. China Ser. D 29, 441–449 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China

    Yue Li, Xiaoyong Bai, Luoyi Qin, Yichao Tian & Panlong Li

  2. College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550000, China

    Yue Li, Yunchao Zhou & Xiao Tian

  3. Puding Karst Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Anshun, 561000, Guizhou, China

    Yue Li, Xiaoyong Bai, Yunchao Zhou, Luoyi Qin, Xiao Tian, Yichao Tian & Panlong Li

Authors
  1. Yue Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoyong Bai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yunchao Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luoyi Qin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiao Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yichao Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Panlong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaoyong Bai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, Y., Bai, X., Zhou, Y. et al. Spatial–Temporal Evolution of Soil Erosion in a Typical Mountainous Karst Basin in SW China, Based on GIS and RUSLE. Arab J Sci Eng 41, 209–221 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1742-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1742-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation